A Little Cleanup, a Lot of Community: Join Montecito’s Beautification Day!

Gather your neighbors, bring the family, and get ready for a morning of giving back and having fun! The Montecito Association invites everyone to join this year’s Beautification Day on Saturday, November 7, with check-in beginning at 9 am in the Upper Village, in front of Tecolote Book Shop.

For more than four decades, this beloved tradition has brought neighbors together to care for the place we call home. Whether you are a longtime resident, new to Montecito, or simply someone who loves our village, you are invited to take part. It is an opportunity to meet new people, reconnect with friends and make a difference together.

This year brings a little friendly competition with the Beautification Day District Challenge. Montecito’s six districts will compete to collect the most litter within their respective neighborhoods, with Montecito Association board captains leading their neighborhood teams. To find out what District you live in, visit our website: https://montecitoassociation.org/about-us/board/

All volunteers will check in at the Upper Village, where they will receive this year’s Beautification Day T-shirt and cleanup supplies, connect with their district captain and enjoy a light breakfast provided by Rosewood Miramar before heading out.

Volunteers can also choose to participate in a special beautification project along the Hammond’s Beach Trail, led by the Montecito Trails Foundation. It is a chance to give a little extra attention to a treasured route to the coast. Space is limited to the first 10 volunteers who sign up at the check-in table. This project will not count toward the District Challenge.

Young artists have created posters for this year’s Children’s Art Gallery. The theme this year is “Our Village, Our Home,” and we invited children to illustrate what makes Montecito special to them. Local shop windows in the Upper Village will showcase the artwork during the week leading up to Beautification Day. Make sure to stop and check them out when you’re picking up your mail or shopping in the Village!

After the cleanup, the community will reconvene in the Upper Village for live music, awards, and lunch provided by The Montecito Village Grocery, San Ysidro Ranch, and Lilac Patisserie, and prepared by Montecito firefighters. This year’s celebration will also honor our two Citizens of the Year, Dana Hansen and Michael Edwards, recognizing their contributions to our community. Community partners will also host information tables.

Beautification Day offers families a simple way to serve together and reminds all of us how much we can accomplish when everyone lends a hand. Come with your neighborhood team, invite a friend, or arrive ready to make a few new ones.

For event details, visit montecitoassociation.org/events/beautification or contact the Montecito Association at [email protected] or 805-969-2026.

We look forward to seeing you on November 7. Let’s come together for ‘Our Village, Our Home!’